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Eli Gill Wins Tiger Football MVP Award, McKenzie Poteete Claims MVC

January 13, 2014

Senior defensive lineman Eli Gill was named Most Valuable Player of the 2013 DeKalb County High School Football Team during the annual Awards Banquet held Saturday night at the Smithville First Baptist Church Life Enrichment Center building. The awards were sponsored by Liberty State Bank

The MVP trophy was presented to Gill by Coach Steve Trapp. Gill helped lead the Tigers to an overall 6-5 record and another appearance in the state play-offs in 2013. It was the third consecutive year the Tigers earned a berth in the state play-offs and their fifth appearance in the last six years. The Tigers lost in the first round of the play-offs to Knoxville Catholic.

Gill is the son of Darrell and Beth Gill. Darrell won the Tiger MVP award after the 1987 season. They are apparently the only father and son to ever win the MVP at DCHS. Eli said he is honored to have been named MVP. " It's amazing. You can only get it once in your life. I am blessed to have this opportunity to have this award. It also means a whole lot to me that my dad and I are the first father and son to have the MVP award."

" He (Gill) has been a good football player for us," said Tiger Coach Steve Trapp. "He is a good kid on and off the field. Being a past MVP myself, it gives me great pride and honor each and every year to recognize a new DCHS MVP," said Coach Trapp.

Meanwhile, Senior and Captain McKenzie Poteete was named Most Valuable Cheerleader. The presentation was made by Cheer Coaches Amanda Fuller and Sonya House. "She is a very talented cheerleader, a very gifted dancer and a perfect student," said Fuller. "She is such a hard worker and gives 110% all the time. She has contributed so much to this squad over four years but I think her greatest contribution is that she has been a great role model. She has shown kindness and humility to each one of these cheerleaders. She puts them before herself. We have all been blessed by having her on our squad and I am truly going to miss seeing her cheering on our sidelines with her big smile," said Fuller.

THIRD PHOTO FROM THE TOP: Team manager Sarah Edwards receives "The Clay Edwards Memorial Tiger Pride Award" named for her father. Pictured with her brother and mother, Abram and Tena Edwards and Coach Steve Trapp